Ear Seeds (Auriculotherapy)

Description: Ear seeds are small beads or seeds placed on auricular acupressure points, often adhered with tape. They are a non-invasive adaptation of ear acupuncture, promoted to relieve pain and support relaxation.

🧠  Biological Plausibility: POOR

Auricular therapy is based on somatotopic mapping of the body onto the ear, but scientific validation of this mapping is limited. Mechanisms proposed include vagus or trigeminal nerve stimulation, but these are vague and highly speculative.

🔬 Evidence: WEAK

No controlled trials support ear seeds for migraine. Most studies involve tension-type headache or stress-related conditions, with low methodological quality.

🎯  Effect Size: NONE

No proven effect. Any benefit is likely due to placebo or relaxation effects.

⚠️ Risk: LOW

Low. Mild skin irritation or pressure discomfort is possible.

💰 Cost: $

Score: 0

  • Benefit: 0
  • Burden: 1
  • Ratio: 0.0

Clinical Takeaways

  • No reliable evidence to support use in migraine.
  • May provide a low-risk adjunctive sense of control or ritual.
  • Should not be used as a substitute for established therapies.

Key References

  • No randomized trials available in migraine populations.
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